want to read classic literature? | A GAME OF TOMES bookclub ⚔️

*cue game of thrones intro*

the wonderful cohost @CarolynMarieReads

🏺I also exist in these places 🏺

[Aman-gmcm]

January - A Farewell To Arms
February - Once there was a war
March - David Copperfield
April - The Catcher in the Rye
May - The Brothers Karamazov
June - The Stranger / The Count Of Monte Cristo / Jude The Obscure
July - Orlando
August - The Awakening
September - Northanger Abbey
October - Wuthering Heights
November - Twelfth Night
December - Eugene Onegin

[CarolynMarieReads]

Ser Emma and Ser Carolyn are ready for battle 📖⚔️📖

[ayeshazafar]

As much as I already feel nostalgic for Dickens vs. Tolstoy (coming from someone who was ready for rise of Dickens), this is so EXCITING!!

[kathyreads]

I absolutely love the catcher in the rye, is one of my favorite books, but I do think it’s meant to be read as an 16/17 year old. It’s full of teen angst and hating on the world because you don’t feel like you fit in. And I think one of the reasons people hate is because the main character acts as a bratty teen that is trying to find his place in the world, but that’s the point. I hope you guys like and enjoy it!

[alskdkfjghd]

I read Catcher in the Rye for the first time at 25 and absolutely loved it. It was the first book to make me cry in a long time. People hate it because they find the main character bratty/annoying. I interpreted it more as a story on the main characters mental health and experiences with trauma and lack of familial support. I hope you like it!!!

[Shellzzbellzz]

Count of Monte Cristo is my favorite book ever. It’s has everything I’d want in a book in it. Revenge, love, action, scheming, treasure, twists. ❤️

[med]

The Catcher in the Rye, I think, is quite a beautiful little book. In many ways (in its structure and style and voice) it is an American masterpiece and that is a belief I will carry with me to the grave. A lot of people I've spoken with seem to misinterpret its inherent meaning which leads to a lot of negative reviews. Of course, though, negative reviews are always valid even with or without understanding its inherent intended meaning. At the end of the day (I've studied this book in school and college many times) it is a book about mental health -depression, in particular- and how going through seriously depressive moments and times in your life can literally change your entire perspective of the world as a whole even if those newfound perspectives seem outlandish or hopeless or "angsty" or or or or... ~almost~ more than it is a pure coming of age story, so keep that in mind when reading it if you feel lost or at war with it. Happy reading :)

[thirdonetoo]

This is such a wonderful idea! Emma, you and Caroline do such a wonderful job encouraging people to enter into books they may otherwise shy away from. I’ve wanted to read The Brothers Karamazov for decades, and now it might actually happen!!

[tracysotos]

This is perfect because 2023 is the year of classics for me. This is a great jumping off point to start. Thank you for all your great videos, Emma. I can't wait to read more Dickens! 📚❤️

[becksfizz]

The absolute, unfathomable swelling of joy in my chest right now… I am so looking forward to this! I just finished my first read through of Brothers Karamazov, and I am SO excited to reread it already. Take care, and hope the new year sees you well ♥️

[ester]

The brothers Karamazov is my favorite book ever, it has truly change my life, but not immediately, only in the second time I read it I came to realize how profoundly the book had impacted me. Growing up, and when I first read the book, I was an atheist, but when I read it the second time it occurred to me that this was the book that sparkled in my heart the idea that being the racional, intrinsically attached to reality person doesn't mean being the better person, quite the opposite really. it's our capacity to trust in the inexplicable and look at things with a deep sense of wonder and amazement with the fantastic that makes us closer to other human beings and the true state of the human soul. I don't expect for everyone to find the book as impactful as I did, but at the very least it's a crazy story that will give you lots to think and be angry about hahaha


P.S. the conflict that everyone talks about when discussing this book (father and son in love with the same woman) it's nothing close to the unbelievable brilliant conflict between the two younger brothers, the last one never becomes a fight or drama, it is truly just two human beings that love each other but can never and will never see eye to eye on things, BEAUTIFUL (and at times heartbreaking).

[celli]

I am soooo excited for this! I highly suggest creating a discord for the bookclub!! It’s a great place to talk about the book together, creating announcements, and spoilery and non-spoilery stuff ☺️

[charu]

I have never been part of a book club but for the first time I feel like being involved. Really excited for this especially for the later half of the year

[miriam]

I've never been part of a bookclub but this sounds like so much fun! What a coincidence that i just got a farewell to arms from the library last week :)

[neekeeeyy]

Aahhh, so glad that A Farewell To Arms is your January pick! I picked that up last November (which was my first Hemingway book ever) but decided to put it down to give way to my priority reads. Am taking this as a sign to pick that book again and read alongside you, guys! Oh, by the way, this is my first time joining a book club so I am really excited yaaayy!! ❤️

[masmadalena]

I first read the catcher in the rye when I was 15 and it was the book that made me love reading, it was my favourite book throughout my adolescence (I mean it like the book was my best friend) and it still holds a very dear place in my heart. I've always thought it was a book you were meant to read at that age and that you would inevitably hate if you were to read as an adult, but my boyfriend read it at 22 and really loved it, so I think maybe it's just one of those stories that withstands the test of time if you have the right perspective.

(Anyway, if you do end up not liking it, I would't give up on Salinger just yet! I've understood from your videos you're not super into short stories but his collection "Nine Stories" is amazing.)

[MsGloomyLamp]

The hate for The Catcher in the Rye makes me so sad. It's such a poignant and deep novel that can be read on the surface level as "a spolied rich teenager is being angsty", but if you read deeper, it's clear to see how broken Holden is, how hard it is for a person to get love and understanding. Holden's experience is so universal that I'm surprised that now it's considered 'a red flag' to love this book.
Anyway, I'm very excited for the Game of Tomes! Hope you enjoy the books you read!

[lunaginebra]

I’m so happy to be able to catch up with your videos now that I’m on vacation because I love them so much! Also, I wanted to let you know that I just finished reading The phantom of the opera, which I started because of you and your amazing recommendations and I absolutely loved it! It was my favorite book this year. Thank you so much for your videos and recommendations, Emmie! I really get to learn a lot even tho I’m a Hispanic literature student and I’m so happy for it! Also your videos are so peaceful and make me feel really happy❤ I’m so excited to get started with this new reading challenge! You encourage and inspire me so much to keep reading!

[sierranevadavideos]

This sounds so fun!! I’m so excited to discuss these books this year 📚❤️

[arinalowery]

Can't wait to hear your opinion on Copperfield, Karamazov, Onegin. Karamazov and Onegin are written beautifully (in the original language), don't know about English versions.
The brothers is one of my fav books of all time. I read it 3 times by now and with every single reading I find something new. It is pure masterpiece, Dostoevsky is the best.